Exploring Life & Business with Sean Tully of INNOCNTS

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Tully.

Hi Sean, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Los Angeles and spent my childhood moving between the Valley and Venice, gaining diverse perspectives from the contrasting neighborhoods of my parents’ homes. Growing up in Southern California during the vibrant 90s and early 2000s greatly influenced my outlook, offering a colorful palette of experiences.

A second-generation surfer, I embraced the traditional surfing aesthetic and pursued professional surfing in my youth, earning features in various international surf publications. My ocean-related adventures have taken me across Europe, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Through connections with renowned surf photographers and lasting friendships forged during my travels, I’ve maintained a consistent presence in both the local surf community and abroad.

In 2010, I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). My art practice centers on the interplay between the intentional and unintentional, creating emotionally charged works influenced by side cultures, perceptions of artistic nostalgia, and universal life experiences.

As an entrepreneur, I founded and currently manage two small businesses. INNOCNTS, initially a studio project highlighting upcoming LA-area artists, evolved into a brick-and-mortar gallery in 2013, situated in the rapidly growing Silverlake neighborhood. After relocating next to the Echoplex in Echo Park in 2015, the gallery hosted over 20 shows before transitioning into a pop-up gallery. In 2020, INNOCNTS took a new direction, launching a side venture—private labeling natural wines under the INNOCNTS Wine Club label, producing limited runs of California wines (30-50 cases). Both companies continue to modestly operate, contributing to authentic projects and fostering connections with remarkable individuals.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Pursuing creative passions without much financial security or investor backing can be an intimidating road at times with various strike-outs and lessons learned along the way but overall, I wouldn’t change a thing. I believe that the indifference and hurdles faced by creatives and business owners contribute to defining our pursuits and ultimately setting us apart from the noise.

Running both businesses and pursuing personal creative endeavors has forced me to delve into areas I wouldn’t typically engage in—such as bookkeeping, accounting, customer relations, and navigating the complexities of social media growth. Overcoming resistance and persuading existing retail businesses to support mine hasn’t been a walk in the park. Dealing with “gatekeeper” types and the unpredictability of garnering support, even with a stellar product, can be challenging when you’re outside their established circles. While I’ve observed that many creatives and businesses benefit from connections (myself included), I’ve found that putting in the hard work and staying true to one’s ethos is irreplaceable.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
INNOCNTS defies definition and rejects the desire to conform to any predetermined identity. When asked, “What is INNOCNTS?” my honest reply has always been that it is whatever it needs to be at any given moment. This approach liberates both myself and the business output from being confined to a rigid definition.

Functioning as a lifestyle-based project, INNOCNTS takes on various forms, including art curation, events, clothing, brand collaborations, surf/skate-related media, and wine. It’s a loose collective of lesser-known individuals from diverse backgrounds attempting to carve out a genuine path of our own.

Originally established as a brick-and-mortar art gallery in the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, INNOCNTS has evolved into a larger movement of like-minded individuals from across the globe. Rooted in strong connections to art, DIY, surf, and skate communities, INNOCNTS continues to showcase genuine projects and individuals doing things their own way.

Contact Info:

• Website: Innocnts.com / innocntswineclub.com / seantully.com
• Instagram: @innocnts @innocnts_wine_club @sean_tully
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innocnts https://www.facebook.com/innocntswineclub
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@innocntsofficial
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/innocnts